Here And Now

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is in Albany and makes an announcement at 10:30 a.m. in the Capitol’s Red Room.

Cuomo was protested at his $5,000-a-head fundraiser in Buffalo. He did not speak to reporters outside the hotel where the event was held.

“Without a hint of irony,” Ken Lovett notes, Cuomo was pocketing campaign cash from rich donors just hours after complaining on the radio that “power of money in this Capitol is unbelievable.”

The event raised at least $450,000 for Cuomo 2014. Bob McCarthy says it was one of the most successful political events in WNY history, and is thought to be the most ever earned locally for a gubernatorial campaign.

Writes McCarthy: “No host committee or list of sponsors was included on the invitations to supporters, but sources say several local Democrats, government officials and lobbyists were involved in encouraging attendance.”

Cuomo finally took a position on minimum wage, saying an increase “would be in order…especially in times like now.”

Cardinal Timothy Dolan and the state’s Catholic bishops are urging the Legislature to raise the minimum wage. The Senate GOP – so far – continues to balk, saying to do so would be a “job killer.”

The DN’s Tom DeFrank says Hillary Clinton both looked and sounded like a presidential candidate during her brief trip to Syracuse University last week, especially when she showed “a little partisan leg” toward the end of her speech.

Charter school operators and former NYC Councilwoman Eva Moskowitz is mulling a 2013 run for mayor, and will decide in the next month or so.

NYC’s five GOP county chairs are aggressively courting NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly and billionaire John Catsimatidis to run for mayor. But neither has committed as yet, so party leaders are still looking.

Catsimatidis says he’s in the “bull pen” if Kelly doesn’t run. He doesn’t think publisher Tom Allon is ready to be mayor, and suggests he run for Manhattan BP instead.

A poll commissioned by the DN (and conducted by Doug Schoen) found Clinton would crush Cuomo in a NY primary, 60-25, with 15 percent undecided.

Newt Gingrich may be out of this year’s presidential race, but his campaign remains $4 million in debt.

One of the jurors in former Senate Majority Pedro Espada Jr.’s corruption trial is refusing to deliberate.

For the first time in 2008, the budget Bloomberg will release tomorrow will call for increasing the number of teachers in NYC.

Sen. Marty Golden’s Democratic opponent criticized the GOP lawmaker for failing to nab any bullet aid for his Brooklyn district. The senator says the district – and NYC as a whole – fared just fine in the regular budget.

Niagara Falls historian Paul Gromosiak predicts Nik Wallenda will be the first – and last – to attempt the US-Canada walk, adding: “Hint, hint, hint. I don’t think he’s going to make it.”

If Wallenda dies during his June 15 stunt, the state bears no liability. But he insists failure “is not an option.”

Wallenda says his walk will take 30 to 40 minutes and will occur at night. He might wear a wetsuit.

NYRA is a seriously troubled organization in desperate need of change, according to state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

The Glens Falls Post-Star thinks NYRA should be “dismantled and never resurrected.”

The NYPD used its warrant squads to gather intelligence on Occupy Wall Street protestors in advance of their May Day demonstrations.

Albany County Legislature Chairman Shawn Morse announced his primary challenge to Sen. Neil Breslin, saying: “The politicians have had their chance. Now it’s the people’s turn!”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control said the state lost nearly $17 million in tobacco tax revenue in a 16-month period ending last August, thanks to roll-your-own cigarette outlets selling loose tobacco at a lower tax rate.

For the fourth time within a month, state education officials have tossed out a question on the standardized tests after finding that errors by Pearson, the test maker, made the problem virtually impossible for students to solve.

Former Erie County Executive Chris Collins picked up some endorsements for his House run.

Collins is one of three GOP House candidates – along with Reps. Tom Reed Michael Grimm – who received the Independence Party’s endorsement, but failed to file sufficient valid signatures from registered party members to qualify for the ballot.

A month after her conviction on public corruption charges, former Yonkers City Councilwoman Sandy Annabi is still stunned by the jury’s verdict, and still maintaining her innocence.

Today’s kicked, compliments of Cindy Adams: “JUDITH Kaye saw a familiar face hailing a cab: ‘Aren’t you Ace Greenberg?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Can you give me a lift?’ ‘Sure.’ The important former chairman of Bear Stearns then dropped the important former chief judge of New York at her hairdresser.”